Joe Ballard

Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Backs, Football
E-mail: jballard@nmu.edu
Telephone: 906-227-2040
At NMU Since 2006

Joe Ballard enters his sixth season on the Northern Michigan University football coaching staff.  He is the assistant head coach and coaches the defensive backs.

During the 2006 season, he coached the running backs and assisted with the special teams. In 2007 he coached the wide receivers and continued to assist with the special teams.

Ballard began his collegiate football career at Central Michigan University before transferring to Grand Valley State University. With the Lakers, Ballard played on two NCAA II National Championship teams. During the 2005 season he started all 14 games at strong safety.

Ballard lettered three times at Chesaning Union High School where he graduated in 2000. He coached the wide receivers and the defensive backfield at Chesaning Union from 2003-04.

Ballard graduated from GVSU in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with an emphasis in probation/pre-law.

Ballard resides in Marquette with his wife Pam, daughter Mya and son Caleb.